About Guy Blando
If you are here, you probably want to know a little bit about me, my background and what you will get from me that you can’t possibly get from a big box jewelry store.
A Little History
Jewelry As A Family Business
First of all, I am a third generation jeweler carrying on a family tradition. My Grandfather, Joseph Blando, came to America in 1912 from Sicily as a tailor, with a background in jewelry sales.
His son, Guy Vito Blando, was a diamond setter by trade and followed his father into jewelry sales. As a young boy, I spent my summer days running errands for my father's jewelery store in the Mallard’s building, located in downtown Chicago.
My Start As A Jeweler
My real journey into the jewelry business began in 1976 with a four-year apprenticeship with master crafter Mike Guellerra. Mike Guellerra had over thirty years of jewelry manufacturing experience when I first went to work for him. Mike taught me more than just how to use the torch, he instilled in me a true love of crafting jewelry as an art form. In all my years in the jewelry business, the years I spent working side-by-side with Mike were the most informative. As I served my apprenticeship with Mike, I also worked at my father’s business. On evenings and weekends, I’d sell jewelry from home. My customer service knows no limits!
Working in the family business
In 1981, G. Blando Jewelry moved out of the Mallard”s building and opened the business in Brookfield, Illinois. For the first time, G. Blando Jewelry had a location that allowed for expansion. Living and working in Brookfield allowed me to spend more time designing jewelry. Our new business also allowed our clients to have a suburban location that was convenient, safe and friendly to purchase their jewelry from. Within the first few years of working at G. Blando Jewelry, my personal business had expanded enough that I was able to hire a bench jeweler and a diamond setter. Over the years, my design work and the quality of the jewelry built by my staff and I gained more and more recognition. My passion for redesigning existing jewelry into a stunning original jewelry statements is one of the best examples of my work. To me, there is nothing more rewarding than disassembling the old and creating beautiful new pieces so that it matches the personality of the owner.
Opening Guy Blando Jewelers
In 1991, I opened up my own jewelry store in Indian Head Park, Illinois. Then in 2008, I moved the business to it's location. Our new store is very open, with glass in each office to allow a full view of the entire interior. We now enjoy a larger showroom, four private design rooms and a four-bench shop with a polishing area..
Book an appointment
I can’t wait to teach you about diamonds or create a custom piece for you.
Please, contact me to make an appointment.
708-246-8100
GuyBlando@gmail.com